This document provides information about birds found in India. It discusses that there are over 10,000 bird species worldwide, with 1400 found in South Asia and 1200 in India. It then describes characteristics of several common Indian bird species like the Indian Pond Heron, Shikra, Crested Serpent Eagle, and Barn Owl. The document notes that 138 Indian bird species are threatened, including 9 critically endangered species like the White-backed Vulture which declined due to the veterinary drug diclofenac. Habitat destruction is a major threat to many threatened Indian bird species.

1. Birds of India
ENVIS-Center
Bombay Natural History Society

2. What are Birds?
• Warm blooded
animals – body
covered with feather –
which can fly, swim
and walk – lay eggs –
shows parental care
• They evolved from
dinosaurs millions of
years ago
• The first bird is called
as Archaeopteryx

3. Some facts about the birds
• Birds are found all over the world - Antarctic and Arctic to
Deserts of Sahara and Kalhari, Tropical South America
and Africa to Himalayan forest and Pelagic islands
• They can tolerate extreme cold and extreme heat
• They migrate long distances – Arctic Tern trips from
North Pole to South Pole twice a year
• Some migrate non-stop over the oceans – Bar-tailed
Godwit
• Some flies at very high altitude – Bar-headed Geese
were observed at an altitude of 20,000 feet above sea
level

4. Diversity of the Birds
• There are about 10,000 species of birds
found all over the world
• Of them 1400 species found in South Asia
• 1200 found in India
• 565 + found in Maharashtra
• 350 found in and around Mumbai
• According to our study there were 140 bird
species in New Mumbai

5. Indian Pond-heron Ardeola grayii
• Very common bird
found near water
bodies
• Mainly feeds on fish,
frogs and aquatic
insects
• During breeding
season get very
attractive golden
plumage

6. Indian Shikra Accipiter badius
• One of the common
birds of prey found in
countryside and in
forests
• Feeds on small birds,
lizards and frogs
• Specialised hunter
and hunt the birds in
midair.

7. Crested Serpent Eagle Spilornis cheela
• One of the huge birds
of prey. Found mainly
in well wooded
streams in forests
• Specialised in killing
reptiles such as
snakes and larger
reptiles
• Build huge nests on
big trees

8. White-breasted Waterhen
Amaurornis phoenicurus
• Commonly found near
water in marshes and
swamps.
• Known for its chorus
call during breeding
season
• Its long legs and
fingers enable it to
walk on floating
vegetaion

9. Barn Owl Tyto alba
• Wide spread through out
the world. Except
Antarctica and remote
pelagic islands
• Specialised rodent
hunter. 90% food
contains mice.
• Very common bird in
Mumbai

10. Greater Coucal Centrops sinensis
• Very strong and effective
hunter feeds on various
types of animals such as
rats, lizards, frogs,
insects and small birds
• Member of cuckoo family
but makes its own nest
and takes care of the
eggs and offsprings
• Considered as good
omen if seen during
morning

11. Coppersmith Barbet Megalaima haemacephala
• Common bird found in
gardens and well
wooded areas
• Famous for its typical
call from which it gots
its name
• Feeds especially on
fig fruits

12. White-throated Kingfisher Halcyon smyrnensis
• Found near water
bodies, streams, fields
and water logged areas
• Feeds on variety of
animals such as fish,
frogs, large insects,
lizards, small snakes etc.
• Known for its
magnificent colours and
patience for catching the
prey

13. Little Green Bee-eater Merops orientalis
• As the name suggests it
eats honey bees, wasps
dragonflies and other
insects.
• Most of the hunting is
carried out on wings
• They live in small flocks
and hunt together or
solitarily
• Very interesting roosting
behaviour – they sit in
closely tight flocks in
green leafy trees.
• Communal breeding sites

14. Asian Palm Swift Cypsiurus balasiensis
• Nests on Palmera
Palms
• Highly dependent on
palm and could have
co-evolved with it
• Feeds in air itself live
in large colonies
• Nests on palm in
colonies

15. Long-tailed Shrike Lanius schach
• Local migrant to our
region during winters
• Small bird of prey feeds
on insects, frogs, lizards
and small birds
• Peculiar habit of hanging
the food remains on
thorny bushes – therefore
also called as Butcher
Bird

16. Jungle Babbler Turdoides striatus (somervillei)
• Live in groups of 7-9
birds. They are mainly
members of same
clan
• Hunt in groups feeds
on insects and berries
• Communal nesting
behaviour – 2-3
females lay eggs in
single nest

17. Red-vented Bulbul Pycnonotus cafer
• Commonly found in
well wooded and
moist areas.
• Feeds on fruits,
berries and
occasionally on
insects
• Famous for

18. Purple-rumped Sunbird Nectarinia zeylonica
• One of the beautiful
birds of India, found
every where
• Can be seen easily
over the flowers
sucking nectar
• Works as pollinator
for many flowering
plants

19. Thick-billed Flowerpecker Dicaeum agile
• One of the smallest
birds of India
• Very active and agile
bird
• Very important factor
in forest ecosystem
works as pollinator for
many flowering plants

20. Oriental Magpie-robin Copsycus saularis
• One of the songster
birds of India
• Prefers wooded areas
• Feeds exclusively on
insects
• Male sings melodious
songs during
breeding season

21. Racket-tailed Drongo Dicrurus paradiseus
• Commonly found in
forested areas.
• Famous for mimicking
calls of other birds
• Some times steals
food from other birds
by mimicking
predators call

22. Rufous Treepie Dendrocitta vagabunda
• Commonly found in
forests and well
wooded areas.
• Hunt in pairs of
parties
• Predator of chicks
and eggs of small
birds

23. Threatened Birds of India

24. Why birds are threatened
• Habitat Destruction
• Expansion of Agriculture
• Rapid Industrialization
• Poaching and Trade
• Global Warming and Climate
Change

25. Categories of threatened birds
- Extinct – not seen at least for 50 years
- Critically Endangered – likely to be extinct
- Endangered – high risk of extinction
- Vulnerable – risk of extinction
- Near threatened – close to vulnerable
- Least Concern – not qualify any of the above
- Data deficient – no information available

26. Threatened Birds Scenario
Species World India
Critically Endangered 181 9
Endangered 351 12
Vulnerable 674 59
Near Threatened 795 58
Total 2001 138

27. Critically Endangered
• In Central India we have 9 species of
the birds which come under this
category

28. White-backed Vulture Gyps bengalensis
• This species is widely
distributed in India
• Till late 1990 it was in
abundant but declined
rapidly
• Cause – veterinary use of
diclofenac for livestock

29. Long-billed Vulture Gyps indicus
• This species is also widely
distributed in India
• Like White-backed Vultures
their population declined
rapidly after 1990
• Cause – veterinary use of
diclofenac for cattle

30. Jerdon's Courser Rhinptilus bitorquatus
• This is endemic bird found in
south-eastern Andhra Pradesh.
Earlier known from few places
in Central India from Godavari
River basin.
• Habitat specialist bird found
only in scrub forest
• Threats – habitat destruction
because of human activities

31. Forest Owlet Heteroglaux blewitti
• This bird is endemic to Satpuda
Mountains known from only from six
places in Central India. Because of the
Forest Owlet, the Central Indian Forests
come under Endemic Bird Area
• Only found in dry deciduous forests
• Threats – habitat destruction for fuel
wood, illicit wood cutting, overgrazing
and direct persecution by tribal

32. Endangered
• We have 12 bird species which come
under this category

33. Great Indian Bustard Ardeotis nigriceps
• Historically spread all over
Indian subcontinent. Now
restricted to only a few places
in Rajasthan, Maharashtra,
Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh
and Madhya Pradesh
• Habitat specialist birds
representative of Grassland
• Threats – expansion of
agriculture, habitat
fragmentation, overgrazing,
pesticides and hunting

34. Vulnerable
• We have 59 species which come under
this category

35. Spot-billed Pelican Pelecanus philippensis
• The species found all over
India in large wetlands
• The population is declining
very fast
• Threats – destruction of
nesting habitat, drainage
and pollution of wetlands
and dearth of food

36. Sarus Crane Grus antigone
• Historically widespread all
over south Asia and
Australia. Now declining all
over its range
• Threats - primarily
threatened by a combination
of habitat loss and
modification (owing primarily
to agricultural expansion),
pollution and persecution

37. Near Threatened
• We have 58 species which fall under
this category

38. Painted Stork Mycteria leucocephala
• Widespread and locally
common resident in South
east Asia
• It frequents freshwater
marshes, lakes and
reservoirs, flooded fields,
paddy fields, freshwater
swamp forests, riverbanks,
intertidal mudflats and
saltpans
• Threats - habitat loss,
disturbance, pollution and
hunting of adults and
collection of eggs and
nestlings from colonies is
cause for concern

39. Lesser Flamingo Phoeniconaias minor
• Found only in Asia and
African Continent
• Every year 10% population
decline is observed in Africa.
It breeds in Little Run of
Katch in Gujarat
• After breeding, disperse over
Indian Subcontinent
• Threats – water pollution,
disturbance to nesting sites
and habitat destruction

40. Thank You!
• www.bnhsenvis.nic.in envis@bnhs.org